Walking foot frustration
#11
I also had a cheapie Brother and had no trouble with the walking foot. Make sure that your quilt is supported all the way around, put an ironing board next to your sewing table if you need to to help support the weight of the quilt, or move your machine to a larger atble like a dining table while you are quilting. No machine would be able to evenly feed a quilt through if it is dragging on the floor.
#12
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Some walking feet are better than others. Some of the generic walking feet, especially, are not very good.
Also, some of the generic walking feet do not work as well on modern machines as on older ones -- because there is a mismatch between the foot and the width of the feed dogs. Modern machines have wider feed dogs that some of the generics do not adequately cover.
Also, some of the generic walking feet do not work as well on modern machines as on older ones -- because there is a mismatch between the foot and the width of the feed dogs. Modern machines have wider feed dogs that some of the generics do not adequately cover.
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 106
Well they definitely are not dragging on the floor. And everything is set up correctly. I guess it is just very sensitive to ANY weight. . And there is usually an ironing board across the end of the table as well. Just need to work with it more to get the everything just right I guess. Also, here is my work area just because I like showing it!
#14
If the weight of the quilt is not an issue, it sounds like more of a problem with the walking foot, can you take it back to where you bought it??? Otherwise you might just have to treat yourself to a new machine
#15
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 106
Ok so I worked with it and worked with it. The more I supported the weight of the quilt and made sure everything was juuuust right, the more it seemed determined to NOT feed anything evenly. It was shoving my quilt top all over the place. I even re-basted with a million pins and spray and that just seemed to anger it more.
So in a last ditch hail mary play to save my quilt, I pulled off the walking foot and put the regular every day standard presser foot on. It worked beautifully. Everything fed perfectly even. Pretty, consistent stitches and it went about 4 times faster. Now half my quilt looks perfect, and the half done with the walking foot looks like what a baboon might do if you fed him a bottle of jack daniels and put in front of a sewing machine.
So in a last ditch hail mary play to save my quilt, I pulled off the walking foot and put the regular every day standard presser foot on. It worked beautifully. Everything fed perfectly even. Pretty, consistent stitches and it went about 4 times faster. Now half my quilt looks perfect, and the half done with the walking foot looks like what a baboon might do if you fed him a bottle of jack daniels and put in front of a sewing machine.
#16
Oh dear, but at least you can get along without the walking foot. I was going to "re-suggest" using an ironing board for support, as that helps me a lot, but that certainly isn't the problem. I suspect the side that doesn't look so good actually looks better than you think. Walk away from it for a few hours and then come back and look. And, if you wash it, it will probably all look the same. Good luck.
Dina
Dina
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: West Texas
Posts: 2,073
If you try some stitching with the walking foot on a small sandwich, maybe you can see what the problem is. Another thing to check about the foot itself is to simply move the arm up and down while the foot is not on the machine and see what kind of motion is going on in the feet area. If nothing is happening there (no feeding action), then the foot is dysfunctional for sure.
Dayle
Dayle
#18
I have a Janome 6600P, and it has it's own dual feed foot that is wonderful. I have had my machine 5 years, and it is the best one I have ever owned. I got it on a good sale. I never have trouble while using that function.
#19
Ok so I worked with it and worked with it. The more I supported the weight of the quilt and made sure everything was juuuust right, the more it seemed determined to NOT feed anything evenly. It was shoving my quilt top all over the place. I even re-basted with a million pins and spray and that just seemed to anger it more.
So in a last ditch hail mary play to save my quilt, I pulled off the walking foot and put the regular every day standard presser foot on. It worked beautifully. Everything fed perfectly even. Pretty, consistent stitches and it went about 4 times faster. Now half my quilt looks perfect, and the half done with the walking foot looks like what a baboon might do if you fed him a bottle of jack daniels and put in front of a sewing machine.
So in a last ditch hail mary play to save my quilt, I pulled off the walking foot and put the regular every day standard presser foot on. It worked beautifully. Everything fed perfectly even. Pretty, consistent stitches and it went about 4 times faster. Now half my quilt looks perfect, and the half done with the walking foot looks like what a baboon might do if you fed him a bottle of jack daniels and put in front of a sewing machine.
#20
I have had many brothers and never had a problem with the walking foot on any of them. Is your stitch length too short, is it the right foot for your machine. also are your sandwiches basted thoroughly. Don't give up I have quilted pot holders, my first quilt, and bags with my walking foot on all three of my brothers so I am thinking there is something wrong with the foot or you are just not sure how to use the foot. Maybe take it to your dealer and ask what you are doing wrong
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